Video: ANTHRAX Rejoined By Drummer CHARLIE BENANTE For ROCK ON THE RANGE Performance

ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante rejoined his bandmates yesterday (Sunday, May 17) for their performance at the Rock On The Range festival after missing the first few weeks of the group’s spring North American tour with VOLBEAT so that he could undergo physical therapy in his continuing battle with carpal tunnel syndrome. He was once again temporarily replaced by Jon Dette, who has previously played with SLAYER, TESTAMENT and ICED EARTH.

Video footage of ANTHRAX‘s Rock On The Range performance in Columbus, Ohio can be seen below.

When it was announced that Benante would sit out the initial ANTHRAX dates on the VOLBEAT tour, the drummer explained in a statement: “This was a difficult decision to make, especially as I had to miss dates on the last cycle because of my hand surgery. But the fact is, playing a show five or more times a week just isn’t realistic right now. I found that out when we were making our new album, and I don’t want to let the fans down by not being able to give it everything I have at every show.”

He continued: “I was driving the other day and my hand went numb, so unfortunately, it’s just not 100 percent yet. I figure I can play for maybe three weeks at a time, but then I have to let it rest.”

Benante added: “The guys in the band have been incredibly understanding and supportive, and I hope the fans will be as well. The positive side is that I plan to use the time off the road constructively and focus on our upcoming album, continue to work on the package artwork and develop a number of other ideas I’ve got for the campaign.”

Dette previously filled in for Benante during ANTHRAX‘s appearance at the Soundwave festival in 2013 and at a number of European shows in 2014.